One might expect that ethanol plants would be unconditionally embraced in the farm belt, but farm families are not immune to NIMBY-ism. When plans for an ethanol distillery were announced for the outskirts of Sparta, Wis., residents concerned about emissions, odor, and, yes, the view, printed up T-shirts: “Good idea. Bad location.” Residents of New Castle, Ind., are also lobbying against a proposed plant. “We’re not against ethanol production whatsoever,” says activist Lonnie Nation. “But if you put it where they want to, you’re going to be squeezing all our homes between an ethanol plant and a prison. What will that do to home values?” Big Ethanol says opposition has been overstated.
